An Uyo-based Legal Practitioner, Mr Inibehe Effiong, has called for discontinustion of the case against Facebook user, God’own Udoito, describing the allegations against her as flimsy and frivolous.
Effiong, a human rights lawyer and activist made the call while speaking to newsmen after the court session in Uyo on Friday
Recall that Udoito is being arraigned on a six-count charge bothering on criminal defamation, threats, publication of false information and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
The charges are based on alleged publication and circulation of false, misleading, defamatory and threatening statements and videos by Udoito, a Facebook user with no fewer than 20,000 followers.
He said that prosecuting such case would be a mere drain pipe on the state government’s resources.
Effiong, the Alternate chairman, Citizens’ Engagement Committee, Nigeria Bar Association, wondered why such flimsy allegations should be a source of worry to the state government.
“I work in a NBA committee that has a duty to monitor cases of this nature, we also intervene in matters touching on the rights of the Nigerian people.
“The case of Udoito appears like a deliberate move to gag people from enjoying their rights to thought and expression,” he said.
He urged the state government to concern itself more with issues concerning the welfare of Akwa Ibom people.
Effiong expressed worry that Udoito had not been granted her constitutional right to bail even when some exceptional cases of terrorism and murder had been admitted to bail.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)